Historical directory of Hungarian, Hungarian-descended, and Hungarian-speaking clergy serving abroad

Kecskés József Attila OFM

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Deceased

Birth data:: Nagygyimót, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — November 16, 1917
Death data:: Santa Barbara, CA, USA — May 7, 1983
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: ferences (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) (Szent István Kusztódia)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: August 26, 1934
Perpetual vows:: June 15, 1940
Priestly ordination:: June 19, 1943

Biographical data

He entered the order on August 26, 1934. He took his solemn vows on June 15, 1940. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1943. According to the 1949 Franciscan sematism, his whereabouts are unknown. After leaving Hungary, he founded a youth social and sports association in Santiago, Chile, in South America. In 1953, he moved to the United States, where he served until his death. He received citizenship in 1959. He was a Knight of Columbus. In 1972, he was received in a private audience by Pope Paul VI. He passed away after a long illness.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Church / institution	Position
1943	1945	Sümeg, Kingdom of Hungary	Hungary		religious educator and camp chaplain
1945	1949	Nagykanizsa, Kingdom of Hungary	Hungary		assistant pastor

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Church / institution	Position
1949	1953	Santiago de Chile, Chile		pastor
1953	1956	Roebling, NJ, USA	Nagyboldogasszony R. K. Egyházközség
1956	1958	New Brunswick, NJ, USA	Szent László R. K. Egyházközség
1959	1960	Fort Wayne, IN, USA
1961	1964	Youngstown, OH, USA
1965	1970	Farrell, OH, USA
1971	1973	Youngstown, OH, USA
1974	1975	Portage, PA, USA
1976	1978	Huntington Park, OH, USA
1978	1983	Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Life timeline

Birth

November 16, 1917

Nagygyimót, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary

Entry into religious life

August 26, 1934

Perpetual vows

June 15, 1940

Priestly ordination

June 19, 1943

Service in the homeland

1943 – 1945

Sümeg, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary

religious educator and camp chaplain

Service in the homeland

1945 – 1949

Nagykanizsa, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary

assistant pastor

Service abroad

1949 – 1953

Santiago de Chile, Chile

pastor

Service abroad

1953 – 1956

Roebling, NJ, USA

Nagyboldogasszony R. K. Egyházközség

Service abroad

1956 – 1958

New Brunswick, NJ, USA

Szent László R. K. Egyházközség

Service abroad

1959 – 1960

Fort Wayne, IN, USA

Service abroad

1961 – 1964

Youngstown, OH, USA

Service abroad

1965 – 1970

Farrell, OH, USA

Service abroad

1971 – 1973

Youngstown, OH, USA

Service abroad

1974 – 1975

Portage, PA, USA

Service abroad

1976 – 1978

Huntington Park, OH, USA

Service abroad

1978 – 1983

Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Death

May 7, 1983

Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Sources

MKL: Youngstowni Magyarok Nagyasszonya egyházközség;
Schematismus provinciae Sanctae Mariae in Hungaria Ordinis Fratrum Minorum S. P. N. Francisci anno 1949. Budapest, 1949.;
KMVÉ: 1953–1984.;
Török:166, 258.;
Kép forrása: Magyar Ferences Könyvtár Fotótára;
Híradó, 1954-07-22.;
https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12003-1309499740-&ocr_panel=1&referred=mh_record_page✓

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Citation for this entry

Kecskés József Attila OFM: personal record. In: Historical directory of Hungarian, Hungarian-descended, and Hungarian-speaking clergy serving abroad. Available at: https://www.diaszporalelkipasztorok.hu/persons_v2/view.php?id=514 (accessed: 2026-07-07).

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